Losing heat!

Our windows are really old and they rattle and are in a way too small for their frames. I think this is where we're losing all our heat-- once, we had it turned up to 90 and the actual temperature of the house was 72. I stuffed plastic in all the gaping crevices and the temperature dropped 4 degress!

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Losing heat!

Meg,

Until you can get new windows installed, a "band-aid" solution is to get some heavy plastic sheeting and staple it to the window frame on the outside of the house. While stapling it on, pull it as taught as you can so it wont be flapping around in the wind then staple some thin wood strapping on where you have stapled the plastic. This just stops the plastic from being pulled out of the staples if it's really windy. I would also think that if your windows are really old, they are only single glazed so the plastic gives you that air space although not to the same effect as double glazed windows. You could also apply some duct tape on the inside covering any gaps between the window and the frame. I admit that this is a cheap and nasty way of doing it, but if you can stop those drafts, it will help somewhat. The down side is, on the next mild day when you would like to air out a little bit, the window is sealed. As Justaframer says, the furnace will run until the temp reaches what it is set at and in your case it could be 24 hours a day. Lots of $$$$

If your house is old, the windows might not be the only culprit but thats for another discussion....see to the windows for a start.

Losing heat!

Meg

Is the house owned, or rented? Is it freezing temperatures outside until April or so, as is typical for 80% of the country, where crazy people live? (jk)

You have lots of options, form simple to complex and costly. I suggest however, that all are money savers. You are paying a steep price as it is, just to the utility company, as you well know, once a month!

Replace the windows, caulk and seal the windows, insulate the outside walls, and more can all be done. The caulk and seal drill is going to be included in all answers. Generally, it cannot be done under 40F.

Losing heat!

Also, try stuffing insulation between window frame and wall framing then re0installing the window trim. This will cut down on buku airflow. Then do the plastic if you cannot afford the windows just yet.